Google to launch ultrafast broadband in Kansas City, Kan.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Google said yesterday that it will make Kansas City, Kan., its first site for its ultrafast broadband network.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Google said yesterday that it will make Kansas City, Kan., its first site for its ultrafast broadband network.

The service, which doesn't have a price yet, is intended to offer Internet speeds as high as one gigabit. Google says that's about 100 times faster than most Americans have.

More than 1,000 cities across the United States campaigned to be Google's first site. Google plans to offer service beginning in the first quarter of 2012.

"The entire country is going to be watching what happens here," said Milo Medin, Google's vice president for access services.

The news stirred hundreds of giddy onlookers to their feet yesterday at Wyandotte High School, where many had gathered to hear the surprise announcement. Local, state and federal dignitaries were beaming with possibilities.

"As governor of this state, I'm declaring today Google Day in Kansas," said Gov. Sam Brownback.

The transition for the users will be similar to the conversion from dial-up to broadband, Medin said.

"We wanted to find a location where we could build quickly and efficiently. Kansas City has great infrastructure, and Kansas has a great, business-friendly environment," Medin said.

Although there are massive implications for health care, economic development and education, it will be up to businesses and the public to consider the possibilities.

"You put a brand-new tool out there, and you say, 'Come play with it,'" Brownback said.

Schools and other public locations can use the service free.

Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Cynthia Lane said the difference will be immediate, especially at the district's high schools, where every student has a laptop.

"My mind is racing," said Pat Brune, president of Leadership 2000, a group with a mission of developing community leaders. Brune said she is a product of Kansas City's public schools, "and the way they can use this in the school will be absolutely amazing."

Competition to become the pilot city for the service was fierce. Topeka, Kan., even changed its name to Google for a month last year.